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Flash flood is among the most catastrophic hazards worldwide. Jordan has been witnessing unusual shocks of flash floods with regular intervals. It is best described as sudden events involving “too ...

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Olea europaea subsp. europaea cultivar Mehras was determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. Chloroplast genome was 155,897 bp in length, co...

This study was carried out to find chlorinated pesticides residues in foodstuff of animal origin in Jordan through 2013 and 2014. Ministry of Environment of Jordan asked the Royal Scientific Society to monitor the pesticides residues of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in foodstuff of animal origin under the supervision of official scientific committee. Results of milk products showed that there were two samples from 30 were contaminated, but less than the maximum residue limit (MRL). Results of table eggs showed that 11 samples from 35 were contaminated, but less than MRL. Results of meat and poultry analysis showed that 21 samples from 55 were contaminated, but less than MRL. However, the contaminated samples were contained β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, heptachlor and aldrin. Conclusions and recommendations were reported to minimize pesticides residues in foodstuff of animal origin in Jordan.

Yemen’s extremely high quality sidr honey is produced in traditional hives (Figure 1(a)–(d)) that are inhabited by the indigenous honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera jemenitica foraging only on th...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the western honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera lamarckii was sequenced. This mitochondrial genome is 16,589 bp in length with 37 classical eukaryotic mitochondrial genes and an A + T-rich region. Gene directions and arrangements are similar to those of other Apis mitogenomes. Seven genes begin with ATT, four with ATG, and two with ATA (none with ATC) and all genes terminate with TAA. Four genes are encoded on the heavy strand and nine are encoded on light strand. All of the 22 tRNA genes, ranging from 66 to 80 bp, have a typical cloverleaf structure. A phylogenetic tree showed that A.m. lamarckii clusters with other A. mellifera subspecies, as expected.

We present the complete mitochondrial genome of honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera sahariensis (Apidae) belonging to the African lineage. The assembled circular genome has a length of 16,569 bp which comprises 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and AT rich region.

SummaryWe analyzed mitochondrial DNA variation in honey bee colonies in Jordan using DraI restriction profiles of the COI-COII intergenic region. Seven different haplotypes were observed, three of which belonged to the C mitochondrial lineage. Samples displaying haplotypes of the C lineage were concentrated in the north of the country where frequent importations of European bees have occurred. We conclude that the C mitochondrial haplotypes found in the study reflect past or recent importations of non-native honey bees. No C haplotypes were detected in areas that have been identified as possible source populations for the conservation of original A. m. syriaca in the south of the sampling region, thus confirming the existence of comparatively pure genetic resources of this subspecies in Jordan.

The Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis) is a social insect belonging to the Vespiade family (Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets), genus Vespa (true Hornets). The oriental hornet is a scavenger and an agricultural pest, especially to bee farmers, but is also recently described as a harvester of solar energy. Here, we report the mitochondrial genome sequence of the Oriental Hornet, Vespa orientalis F., which may play a vital role in understanding this wasp biology, light trapping and generation of electricity. The mitochondrial genome of this hornet is 16,099 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 21 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The overall base composition of the heavy-strand is 40.3% A, 5.9% C, 13.2% G, and 40.6% T, the percentages of A and T being higher than that of G and C. The mitochondrial genome of the Oriental Hornet, Vespa orientalis F. represents the first mitogenome of a solar energy harvesting insect.

(2005). Record of Sphecophaga vesparum Curtis, a natural enemy of Vespa orientalis in northern Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 114-116.

The mitochondrial genome sequence of Levant Region honeybee, Apis mellifera syriaca, is analyzed and presented for the public for the first time. The genome of this honeybee is 15,428 bp in its length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The overall base composition is A (42.88%), C (9.97%), G (5.85%), and T (41.3%), the percentage of A and T being higher than that of G and C. Percentage of non-ATGC characters is 0.007. All the genes are encoded on H-strand, except for four subunit genes (ND1, ND4, ND4L, and ND5), two rRNA genes and eight tRNA genes. The publication of the mitochondrial genome sequence will play a vital role in the conservation genetic projects of A. mellifera, in general, and Apis mellifera syriaca, in particular; moreover, it will be useful for further phylogenetic analysis.

Bees fascinate almost everyone not just scientists but school children and the general public as well. This project builds on that fascination and seeks to inform and develop that curiosity into real research as well as reaching out across frontiers.

Nizar Haddad, Jens Esser and Peter Neumann Bee Research Unit, National Centre for Agricultural Research and Extension, Baqa’, Jordan. Dietzgenstr. 57, 13156 Berlin, Germany. Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station ALP, CH-3033 Bern, Switzerland. Eastern Bee Research Institute of Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.